A Comprehensive Guide to Using PineHook+ for Android Method Hooking

PineHook+ is a powerful tool designed to simplify the process of method hooking in Android applications. Whether you're a developer aiming to modify app behavior or a security researcher analyzing app functionalities, PineHook+ offers a streamlined approach to intercept and alter method calls without extensive coding.

What is PineHook+?
PineHook+ is an advanced method hooking framework for Android that allows users to intercept and modify method calls within applications. It's particularly useful for tasks like bypassing subscription checks, altering return values, or analyzing app behavior for security assessments.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using PineHook+​

1. Setting Up PineHook+

Option 1: Compile from Source

• Visit the PineHook+ GitHub Repository to access the source code.
• Follow the provided instructions to compile the project on your local machine.
  

Option 2: Use Precompiled Files

• Download the precompiled APK or hook files from the Releases Section.
• If you've downloaded the APK, extract the /hook folder and the necessary smali classes from the DEX file. Key classes to extract include:
  
  • top.canyie.pine package
  • com.pinehook.plus.a class
  • com.pinehook.plus.Hook class and its subclasses
  • com.pinehook.plus.JsonParser class
  • com.pinehook.plus.Loader class
  • com.pinehook.plus.NativeLibLoader class
  • dev.rikka.ndk.thirdparty.libcxx package (if present)
    

Note: If you've downloaded the hook ZIP file, this step can be skipped as it already contains the extracted classes and files.

1. Identify the Target Method

• Determine the class and method you intend to hook in your target application.
• For instance, if an app displays a "You are not subscribed!" message, identify the method responsible for this check, such as isVip in the MainActivity class.
• Decompile the target APK and examine the smali code to locate the method and understand its behavior.
  

1. Integrate Hook Files into the Target App

• Transfer the extracted DEX files and the /hook folder into the target application's directory.
• Ensure that all necessary classes and resources are correctly placed to facilitate the hooking process.
  

1. Configure the Hook

• Navigate to the /hook folder and open the config.json file.
• Remove any existing example hooks and define your custom hook configuration.
• For example, to modify the return value of the isVip method in the MainActivity class:

  {
    "com.mycompany.application.MainActivity": {
      "isVip": {
        "after": {
          "result": true
        }
      }
    }
  }

• If the method accepts parameters, specify them using the paramTypes key. For instance, if isVip accepts a boolean parameter:

  {
    "com.mycompany.application.MainActivity": {
      "isVip": {
        "paramTypes": ["boolean"],
        "after": {
          "result": true
        }
      }
    }
  }

1. Compile the Modified APK

• Rebuild the APK with the integrated hook configurations.
• Sign the APK appropriately to ensure it can be installed on your device.
• Install the modified APK on your Android device and verify that the hook functions as intended.

Conclusion​

PineHook+ offers a user-friendly and efficient solution for method hooking in Android applications. By following the steps outlined above, developers and researchers can effectively intercept and modify method behaviors, facilitating tasks like feature unlocking, behavior analysis, and more.
For a visual walkthrough and additional insights, refer to the original tutorial.